Container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container provided with supporting means and selfaligning stacking means, and a locking device for locking the containers in stacked position with a mating container.

United States Patent [191 Lutz [ CONTAINER [75] Inventor: David E. Lutz,Carlisle, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Minicube System, Inc., Carlisle, Pa.

[22] Filed: Feb. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 114,257

[52] US. Cl 220/4 F, 217/12, 220/97 B [51] Int. Cl 865d 7/24, 865d 9/12[58] Field of Search 217/12; 220/4, 4 F

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Shay 217/12R [451 Sept. 25,1973 3/1968 Verhein et al. 220/4 R 9/1963 Eberly 217/12 R PrimaryExaminer-George E. Lowrance Att0mey.lohn J. Byrne [57] ABSTRACT Acollapsible container provided with supporting means and self-aligningstacking means, and a locking device for locking the containers instacked position with a mating container.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATEMED E Z B 3.760.970

SHEU 2 0f 4 INVENTOR DAVID E. LUTZ CONTAINER This invention relates to acontainer and more particularly to a collapsible container for use incontainerized shipping systems. Additionally, this invention is directedtoward containers designed to be handled by forklift trucks, and alsohaving means whereby mating containers may be stacked one upon anotherand locked in stacked position.

Containerized shipping is becoming more acceptable as a highly desirablemethod of shipping. Among the many advantages of containerized shippingis the economical savings due to the reduced need of handling individualitems, which further leads to a reduction in the number of claims filedagainst shipping companies for damaged goods. Simply stated, individualitems or goods are packed in a container at a point of origin, the

container is sealed and is shipped to its destination without need forhandling the individual items between the point of origin anddestination, which, of course, results in a reduction in manpower needs.Standardized containers also lend themselves to mechanical handlingwhich is another factor in lessening handling costs and damages to goodsduring shipment.

Of course, containerized shipping is not without its own added expensessuch as the costs of providing strong and durable containers. It isquite obvious that if containers could not be used for an extendedperiodof time over and over again, the costof such a system would beprohibitive.

In addition to providing strong and durable containers, it is alsodesirable to provide containers which are versatile with respect to theload and unloading thereof. Generally, the container should be locked'atone point only, though access may be gained through more than a singleopening, once the single lock is opened. It is not always-possible toplace the container in the proper orientation such that access theretocan be gained through a single predetermining opening. Hence, it isdesirable to provide a container wherein more than one side can beremoved to permit access to the interior of the container.

It is also desirable to provide a container which can be mated withsubstantially identical containers in stacked relationship. In order tostack containers, however, the stacking means must be sufficient toprevent lateral movement in any direction and vertical movement. Also,it is necessary to provide a container with feet which space the base ofthe container from the floor to permit entry of the forks of theforklift truck.

Such feet must be of substantial strength to support the container underday-to-day handling conditions. The advantages of collapsible containersare obvious. Oftentimes the containers have to be deadheaded back totheir point of origin, and it is more economical to ship the containersback as a smallcompact bundlethen as, a large, empty, space-consumingobject.

Collapsible containers are, of course, known to the prior art.Generally, speaking, however, these containers are held together inrather loose fashion when in the completely packed or sealed condition,or, in the alternative, are very sturdy in the packed and sealedcondition but accordingly, are quite difficult to disassemble. Anexample of the first situation is the type wherein the side walls,though interlocked against lateral movement, are free to move verticallyuntil secured by circumscribind flexible straps. If the straps breakduring the course of handling, a not unforeseeable occurrence especiallywhen used with forklifts, there is a strong likelihood that thecontainer will come apart. In the second situation the side walls aregenerally bolted together. While this type container is relativelysturdy when in the assembled condition, it is laborious andtime-consuming and, therefore, is economically unfeasible to assembleand collapse the container.

It is an objective of this invention to overcome the aforementioneddisadvantages of the prior art by providing a container which is quiterigid and sturdy in the assembled condition, but which may be readilydisassembled.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a containerincluding base and cover panels, two side panels and front and rearpanels which are interconnected and locked in assembled position andsealed at one point; namely, at the intersection of the top edge of thefront panel and the front edge of the cover panel.

It is another objective of this invention to provide a container whereinthe panels thereof are so interconnected that access can be gained tothe interior of the container.

In the container of this invention the two side walls and the rear wallsare confined within a rim extending around the side edges of the basepanel withthe width of each panel being coextensive with the width ofthe respective side edge of the base panel. Locking means areprovidedfor each of the side panels and the rear panel. Each lockingmeans includes a locking member attached to the base panel and a lockingelement affixed to the panel for interengagement with the locking memberupon sliding movement of the panel in its own plane relative to the basepanel. In this manner, the locking means of the side panels and/or therear panels can be interengaged without the necessity of having to movethe panels inwardly of the container in a direction transverse to theplane of the panel. Further the side panels and rear panel cannot beremoved without first removing the front panel.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a containerhaving support means on the underside thereof spacing the bottom floorof the container from the supporting surface to permit the insertion ofthe forks of a forklift truck, which supporting means also providesstacking means for stacking mating containers. In this regard, the uppersurface of the container is provided with means adapted to mate with thesupporting means on the underside of a superposed mating container.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide combinationsupporting means and stacking means which stacking means are sloped orangulated in a manner to be described such that a container willself-align when placed upon a mating container in stacked position.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a locking devicecooperating with the stacking means to lock the containers in stackedrelationship. The locking device provides a retainer which automaticallymoves to operative, retaining position once the locking device isproperly positioned'relative to the stacking means.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent tothose skilled in the art by reference to the following detaileddescription when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing two containers of this invention instacked relationship;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the container this invention withthe cover partially open;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of this invention showingit in collapsed form;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the container of this invention showingthe cover and base panels, one side panel and the rear and front panels;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary view showing the means for connecting the coverpanel to the rear panel;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the locking means in lockedposition;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view in elevation showing the locking meansin unlocked position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the locking means in lockedposition;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the locking device for use with thestacking-support means of this invention;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the device of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a view showing the stacking-supporting means in operativeposition with the locking device inserted in the passageways defined bythe lockingsupport means.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts,the numeral 10 generally indicates the container of this invention whichis of a generally rectangular configuration. The container includes afront panel 12, side panels 14 and 16, a rear panel 18 and cover andbase panels 20 and 22 respectively. The base panel is of heavyconstruction such as wood planking or relatively thick plywood, whilethe front and rear panels and cover are of a lighter material such asrelatively thin plywood or in the alternative, of a plastic orlight'metal material of the type commercially available for use in theconstruction of shipping containers.

The components of the container and the assembly thereof can best beunderstood with reference to the exploded view of FIG. 4 where it can beseen that the base panel 22 has angle irons 24 attached to each sideedge thereof with the upstanding legs of the angle irons providing acontinuous rim 26 extending along each side edge of the base panel. Theangle iron is preferably constructed of aluminum for weight conservationpurposes.

The lower edge portions of the front, rear and side panels are snugglyreceived within the confines of the upstanding continuous rim 26 and arethereby prevented from moving laterally outwardly from the base.

The front and rear panels are provided with angle irons 28 and 30 and 32and 34 respectively, which angle irons are preferably of aluminum andare bolted, riveted or otherwise attached along one leg thereof to thevertical side edge portions of the front and rear panels. The overallwidth of the front and rear panels when taking the angle irons intoconsideration is coextensive with the. length of the respective matingside edge of the base panel; however, the front and rear panels per seare somewhat narrower than the side panels and the mating side edges ofthe base panel by a distance which is substantially equal to twice thethickness" of a side wall such that vertically extending grooves 36 areprovided between the vertical side edges of the front panel and theouter legs of the angle irons as shown in FIG. 4. Likewise, grooves 38are provided in rear panel 18. These grooves receive the vertical sideedges of the respective side panels when the panels are assembled. I I

Further, thevertical lengths of the angle irons on the front and rearpanels 12 and 18 are less than the lengths of heights of the respectivepanels'to allow the edge portion of the front and rear panels to beinserted within the confines of the upstanding rim in a manner such thatthe ends of the angle irons on the respective panels abut the top edgeof the upstanding rim 26. The same is true with respect to the upperportion of the respective panels wherein the upper edge portions thereofare received within the confines of a downwardly extending rim 40 on thecover panel 20, which rim is defined by the free leg of an angle iron,the other leg of which is bolted, riveted or otherwise attached to thecover panel. Therefore, the vertical angle irons on the front and rearpanels abut the rims 26 and 40 at their respective ends such thatvertical forces exerted on the container are absorbed primarily by therims 26 and 40 and the vertical angle irons 28, 30, 32 and 34.

Each of the vertical angle irons are provided with horizontal,vertically spaced web portions 42 spanning the legs of the angle irons,and adapted to be received in slots 44 in the respective side panels,such that when the panels are assembled, the side panels are precludedfrom vertical movement by interengagement of the webs and the slots. Itis to be understood that the side panel 14 is not shown in FIG. 4 but isidentical to side panel 16.

The cover panel 20 is hinged intermediate its length by hinge 46 suchthat the cover can be opened in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The coverpanel includes a downwardly extending rim 40 which encompasses the upperedge portions of each of the side, front and rear panels. The coverpanel 20 is secured to the rear panel 18 by separable connecting means48 shown in FIG. 4a. The connecting means 48 includes a first hook 50attached to the rear of the cover panel and a second hook 52 attached tothe rear surface of the rear panel 18 which hooks are interlocked in amanner shown in FIG. 4a when the cover is in the closed position, butcan be disengaged by merely tilting the cover panel relative to the rearpanel.

The side panels 14 and 16 and the rear panel 18 are each provided withlocking means which locks the panels to the base member in such a mannerthat they are precluded from lateral or vertical movement whenassembled. The locking means is more clearly shown in FIGS. 5 through 7.Only one of the three locking means will be described since they areidentical in construction and operation. The locking means includes alocking member 62 having a body portion 64 with apertures therein forreceiving threaded fasteners 66 for attachment of the locking member tothe base panel. The

body portion includes an upstanding flange 68 which is disposed parallelto the upstanding rim 26 and defines a guideway therewith approximatelythe thickness of the side or rear panel with which it is associated. Theflange includes a projection 70 which extends in the same plane as theflange 68 and which defines a locking slot 72 with the upper surface ofthe base panel 22 as best seen in FIG. 6. A locking element generallyindicated by the numeral 74 is attached to each of the side or rearpanels and includes a body portion 76 having apertures therein forreceiving threaded fasteners 78. Aflange 80 extends laterally outwardlyfrom the body portion 76 in a plane substantially on the level of thebottom edge of its respective panel. The flange 80 extends laterallyoutwardly from the body portion 76 in a plane substantially on the levelof the bottom edge of its respective panel. The flange 80 includes aprojection 82 in the same plane which is adapted to be received withinthe locking slot 72 when the panel is in the locked position as shown inFIG. 7.

As mentioned earlier, the respective panels are substantiallycoextensive with the length of the side edges of the base panels;therefore, in order to allow the panels .to slide between the open andlocked position within the confines of the rim 26, a cutout 84 must beprovided in the lower corner of the panel in the direction of thesliding movement to the unlocked position. This can best be understoodwith reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 where it can be seen that the verticalheight of the cutout is sufficient to allow the leading edge of thepanel to slide past the upstanding rim 26, and the lateral width of thecutout is sufficient to allow the panel to be moved the distancenecessary to permit the projection 82 to clear the locking slot 72. Itis to be understood that each of the side panels and the rear panel, theones that have locking means, includes a cutout similar to notch 84. l

The box is assembled as follows, the loweredge portion of the rear panel18 is inserted within the rim 26 on the rear edge of the base panel andbetween the rim and the upstanding flange 68 on its respective lockingmember. The panel is inserted in an offset position relative to the baseas permitted by the cutout 84 and is then slid to the locked position.The two side'panels are inserted in a similar manner and engaged withtheir respective locking means with the vertical edges of the sidepanels being received in the groove 38 of the rear panel 18 when movedtothe locked position. The front panel is then inserted by tilting theupper edge of the panel toward the person inserting the panel andinserting the lower edge portion inside the rim 26 and pushing itforward using the point of contact of the lower edge of the panel andthe base panel as a pivot point until the vertical side edges of thepanels are nested within the grooves 36 and the webs 42 are receivedwithin the slots 44. The cover panel is then locked in place by firstinterengaging the hooks 50 and 52 and then dropping the cover panel downover the vertically disposed panels such that the rim 40 encompasses theupper edge portions of the respective panels. It is to be noted that theside panels includes slots 90 which receive the transverse leg portions92 of the L-shaped bracket 94 which are attached to the inner side ofthe downwardly extending rim 40. This helps prevent inward movement ofthe top edge portion of the side panels when in the assembledconfiguration. Brackets identical to brackets 94 are disposed on theopposite side of the cover panel 20.

When unloading or collapsing the container one merely must swing backthe cover panel as shown in FIG. 2 after unlocking the single latch 96,which is the only latch or seal means for the whole container, and thenpivot forward and remove the front panel. If it is desired to gainaccess to the interior through one of the side panels, due to theparticular orientation of the container when unloading,for example, thenthe cover panel is completely removed, the front panel is removed andthe side panel is slid in its own plane to the unlocked position andremoved. It is to be understood, however, that the front panel must beremoved prior to removing either side paneLand that likewise at leastone of the side panels must be removed prior to removing the rearpaneLThe container is shown in disassembled or collapsed condition inFIG. 3. It is to be emphasized that the cover, front, side and rearpanels can be completely removed without having to first rearrange thecontents of the container in any way.

The container is provided with supporting means 102 on the under surfaceof its base panel which supporting means is in the form of a pair ofV-shaped elements 103 which V-shaped elements are joined to the angleirons at the ends of the free leg portions thereof. Each of the V-shapedelements 103 are attached to the underside with a particular orientationto define V-shaped slots 105 extending transversely to the plane of apanel which it directly underlies. The height of the feet is sufficientto permit the insertion of a forklift truck beneath the container forhandling purposes.

The cover 20 of the container is provided with V- shaped elements 104 ofsubstantially identical configuration to the elements comprising thesupporting means 102 and are joined to the angle iron at the ends of thefree legs thereof. The V-shaped elements 104 are also so positioned thatthey define triangular passageways extending transversely to the planeof the particular panel which they directly underlie,and are positionedto mate with the supports 102 of a mating container. With reference toFIGS. 1, and 8 through 10, it can be seen that the means 102 arestacking means and cooperate with the elements 104 of a mating containerto lock the container from lateral movement in any direction when in astacked condition as best shown in FIG. 1. The V-shaped elements providea self-aligning feature when the one container is set upon another. Thiscan best be seen in FIG. 10' wherein .a valley 106 is defined betweenthe two V-shaped elements 103 for reception of the element 104.

Due to the particular arrangement of the V-shaped elements along atleast each side of the base and cover panels, the containers when instacked condition are precluded from lateral movement in any direction.In order to prevent relative vertical movement, a locking device 110 isprovided. The locking device 110 includes a base 112 having prongs 114,116 and 1 18 projecting outwardly therefrom a distance greater than thelength of the V-shaped passageways defined by the V- shaped elements 103and 104. The cross-sectional shape of the prongs substantiallyapproximates the shape of the passageways 105. As best seen in FIG. 10,the V-shaped elements when disposed in stacked relationship definepassageways through which the prongs of the locking device are insertedin the manner shown. Prong 116 is closer to prong 118 than to prong 114as shown to provide a clamping function with respect to two of theV-shaped elements, as best shown in FIG. 10. 1

A V-shaped retainer 120 is pivotally attached to the outer end of prong114 at 122 and is weighted in such a manner that the retainer 120normally assumes the dotted line position 124 which is out of theconfines of the planes of the outer side surfaces of the prong 1 14. Toinsert the prongs of locking device within the triangular passageways,the retainer must be held in the position shown in FIG. 9. Whereafter,when the prongs are inserted completely through the passageways, theretainer automatically deops-to the dotted line position as best shownin FIG. 10 and engages the inner edges of the V-shaped elements therebyprecluding removal of the locking device without first shifting theretainer to the position shown in FIG. 9.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed an effective andefficient embodiment of the invention, 7

it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to suchan embodiment as there might be changes made in the arrangement,disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principleof the present invention as comprehended within the scope of theaccompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible container comprising a base, a cover, two side panelsand front and rear panels connecting said side panels to form agenerally rectantular container, said base having a first continuousupstanding rim extending along each side edge thereof, said cover havinga second continuous downwardly extending rim along each side edgethereof, the lower and upper edges of each of the side panels and frontand rear panels being snuggly received within the confines of said firstand second rims when in assembled condition, locking members attached tosaid base at points adjacent the intermediate portion of the lower edgeportions of each of said side panels and said rear panel, a lockingelement attached to each of said side panels and said rear panel forsliding interlocking engagement with its respective locking member, acutout in the end of the lower edge portion of each of said side panelsand said rear panel of a dimension to permit each of said panels toslide into and out of the locked position in the plane of said panelsrelative to said base and said upstanding rim without vertical movement,a pair of elongated angle irons attached to the vertical side edges ofeach of said front and rear panels along one leg of each of said angleirons, the front and rear panels each being of a horizontal length lessthan the horizontal lengths of the respective side edges of said basepanel, the other leg of each of said angle irons being spaced from thevertical side edges of said front and rear panels to define a groove forthe reception of the vertical side edges of the side panels, the lockingmembers and locking elements being so positioned that the front panelmust be removed before the side and rear panels can be removed.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said each of said locking membersincludes an upstanding flange defining a guideway with said upstandingrim for the reception of the lower edge portions of the side and frontand rear panels, whereby the panels are precluded from moving inwardlyor outwardly of the container in directions transverse to the planes ofthe panels,

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said cover has a front edge and arear edge and is hinged intermediate its length along a line parallel tosaid front and rear panels, and including cooperating latch means onsaid front edge and said front panel, and separable connecting means onsaid rear edge and said rear panel whereby said cover can be completelyremoved.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the ends of said angle irons arespaced from the top and bottom edges of said front and rear panels adistance corresponding the distance of the projection of said first andsecond rims from said base and cover respectively, whereby said endsabut the top edges of said first and second rims.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein each of said angle irons includevertically spaced horizontally disposed webs spanning the legs of theangle iron interiorly thereof, and the vertical side edges of said sidepanels have slits for receiving said webs whereby said front and rearpanels are precluded from vertical movement when said vertical sideedges of said side panels are received in said grooves.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein each of said locking elementsincludes a flat body portion affixed to said base, and a projectionextending therefrom parallel to said rim and spaced from said base panelto define a locking slot with said base panels each of said lockingelements includes a bodyportion affixed to the respective side or rearpanel and a projection extending outwardly from the body adjacent thelower edge of said side or rear panel and adapted to be received in saidlocking slot by sliding movement of said locking slot by slidingmovement of said panel in the plane of said panel relative to said base.

7. A collapsible container comprising a base, a cover, two side panelsand front and rear panels connecting said side panels to form agenerally rectangular container, locking members attached to said baseat points adjacent the lower edge portions of each of said side panelsand said rear panel, a locking element attached to each of said sidepanels and said rear panel for interlocking engagement with itsrespective locking member by sliding each of said panels in its ownplane relative to said base, second locking means between said frontpanel and the adjacent vertical side edges of said side panels forpreventing relative vertical movement be tween said front panel and saidside panels, said'front panel being mounted on said base for swingingmovement outwardly away from said side panel along a horizontal axisdefined by the line of engagement between said front panel and saidbase, said side and rear panels being removable from said base onlyafter said front panel has been swung outwardly and said second lockingmeans disengaged.

l i l

1. A collapsible container comprising a base, a cover, two side panelsand front and rear panels connecting said side panels to form agenerally rectantular container, said base having a first continuousupstanding rim extending along each side edge thereof, said cover havinga second continuous downwardly extending rim along each side edgethereof, the lower and upper edges of each of the side panels and frontand rear panels being snuggly received within the confines of said firstand second rims when in assembled condition, locking members attached tosaid base at points adjacent the intermediate portion of the lower edgeportions of each of said side panels and said rear panel, a lockingelement attached to each of said side panels and said rear panel forsliding interlocking engagement with its respective locking member, acutout in the end of the lower edge portion of each of said side panelsand said rear panel of a dimension to permit each of said panels toslide into and out of the locked position in the plane of said panelsrelative to said base and said upstanding rim without vertical movement,a pair of elongated angle irons attached to the vertical side edges ofeach of said front and rear panels along one leg of each of said angleirons, the front and rear panels each being of a horizontal length lessthan the horizontal lengths of the respective side edges of said basepanel, the other leg of each of said angle irons being spaced from thevertical side edges of said front and rear panels to define a groove forthe reception of the vertical side edges of the side panels, the lockingmembers and locking elements being so positioned that the front panelmust be removed before the side and rear panels can be removed.
 2. Thecontainer of claim 1 wherein said each of said locking members includesan upstanding flange defining a guideway with said Upstanding rim forthe reception of the lower edge portions of the side and front and rearpanels, whereby the panels are precluded from moving inwardly oroutwardly of the container in directions transverse to the planes of thepanels,
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein said cover has a front edgeand a rear edge and is hinged intermediate its length along a lineparallel to said front and rear panels, and including cooperating latchmeans on said front edge and said front panel, and separable connectingmeans on said rear edge and said rear panel whereby said cover can becompletely removed.
 4. The container of claim 1 wherein the ends of saidangle irons are spaced from the top and bottom edges of said front andrear panels a distance corresponding the distance of the projection ofsaid first and second rims from said base and cover respectively,whereby said ends abut the top edges of said first and second rims. 5.The container of claim 1 wherein each of said angle irons includevertically spaced horizontally disposed webs spanning the legs of theangle iron interiorly thereof, and the vertical side edges of said sidepanels have slits for receiving said webs whereby said front and rearpanels are precluded from vertical movement when said vertical sideedges of said side panels are received in said grooves.
 6. The containerof claim 1 wherein each of said locking elements includes a flat bodyportion affixed to said base, and a projection extending therefromparallel to said rim and spaced from said base panel to define a lockingslot with said base panels each of said locking elements includes abodyportion affixed to the respective side or rear panel and aprojection extending outwardly from the body adjacent the lower edge ofsaid side or rear panel and adapted to be received in said locking slotby sliding movement of said locking slot by sliding movement of saidpanel in the plane of said panel relative to said base.
 7. A collapsiblecontainer comprising a base, a cover, two side panels and front and rearpanels connecting said side panels to form a generally rectangularcontainer, locking members attached to said base at points adjacent thelower edge portions of each of said side panels and said rear panel, alocking element attached to each of said side panels and said rear panelfor interlocking engagement with its respective locking member bysliding each of said panels in its own plane relative to said base,second locking means between said front panel and the adjacent verticalside edges of said side panels for preventing relative vertical movementbetween said front panel and said side panels, said front panel beingmounted on said base for swinging movement outwardly away from said sidepanel along a horizontal axis defined by the line of engagement betweensaid front panel and said base, said side and rear panels beingremovable from said base only after said front panel has been swungoutwardly and said second locking means disengaged.